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TO THE MEMBERS 

of the 



Union Leas^ue 



"N 



.\t a lai'g'o nu'cting. lu'ld ar ilio La TicMTo TTousc ()ctolirr (>. 
187"). the i'ollowini!,' statement of the a[»|)()iii1 iiieiil, and actinn of 
the Connuiltee of Sixty-two was ivad and oi'(K'i'ed to he printe*! 
and sent to eael> meiuhei- ol' tlie Leau'tie. 



PllILADKLPniA, Oct. (i, LsTo. 
To TtlE Me^[BERS op TIIK FxIoX LKA(it"E. 

Geiifh'iiicn. — " Tlie ('oniniittee of Sixty-two"' of tlu' Fnion 
League. a])pointed hy your Presi(h'nt. inidei- i-esohitions uiiain- 
niously ado]>te(l 1»y tlu' ISoai'd ot' J)ireeto)'s in .\])ril hist, to aid in 
oljtainiug tlic nomination of propel* men foi- the State and ( '<»unty 
offices, to he tided at the a])pr(taelunij:; general t-lection, has. as 
you are wed aware, talcen a (h'cided stan<l against tlie fiuihei" 
coidiniianee of Iving rule in this city, and has declined to in(h)rse 
those nominees whose selection represcids o)ily the command of 
the present controlling party managers. 

The Committee, as was expected, has heen violently assailed 
hy some for the independetd gi'ound thus taken, and it has heen 
asserted, that in this action it <loes not fait h.fully represent Ihe 
views of the hody of the League. The majority of the ( 'om- 
mittee tirndy lu'lieves that the contrary is the case, and that its 
recent resolutions have the hearty a[)pro\-al of much tlie larger 
number of the- memhers of ihe League. 

To set this (pii'stion at ri'st. a sjiccial meeting of the 1 league 
lias been called for 'Thui'sday. October 14, at S i>..m.. and the 
greatest desire ^\hich the ••twenty-nine"' mendici's of the ( 'om- 
mittee have in I'efercnce tv> t his ineetiiig is that it shall hr at tended 
1>y eveiy meml)er who can jiossilily lie pi-es^'ut. and that e^■el•y one 
shall vote with a full uiiderstan<ling of all the tacts attending 
the present (piestion. 



'^riu' folloAviiiij; slalemont of tlu' cijiistitution and action of the 
< 'oininiltci'. and of sonir allrndanl eircnnistances, is iLcrefore 
sidmiitU'd foi- yoitv caivfid eonsi(k'rat ion. 

At a special nicelini;' of tlu' Leai^'uc. called to take such action 
as niiulit aid in secni'ing snitalile nominations for ofricei's to ])C 
eleete<| in Feliruaiy, 1875. whieli Avas held ]^ovendier I'J, 1874. and 
"was very nnnicronsly attended, the following resolutions were 
unaninionsly ado])tc(l : 

'• H7/(7vv/N, The aiiiirnMcliiiii;' inuiiici|ial election is ef spi'fial inipnrtaiioe in 
view <jf the resiionsilile eliaviieter nf the uttices whicli ai-e to bi" tilled uiulertlie 
pmvi.sions dt' the new cnnstitiUion ; whereas, the result of the reei/nl elections 
throughout the coiuitrv has deinonstralecl tliat the intelligent voters will not 
lie hlindly sultject to the control of mere party aftachrnenl ; 

•' Jfr.solrril, That the irnion League, faitiil'ul to the jiurposes exprr-ssed in its 
charter of iV)Stei'ing and promoting the love of Republican government, in 
view of tlu! present situation hereby expresses its continued appro^'al of the 
spirit of the resolutions adopted at a special meeting held May 21, 18GS, in ref- 
erence to the sel(_'Cti<.in of honest and cajialde men as candidates for oiiice. 

" Hi SI, I ml ^ That the intluence and sujiport of the Union League and its mem- 
bi.i's sliould and will be given onl\' to c-mdidati's of unexcejitioiuible (diaracter, 
and whose fitness f(jr office is such as to lea\'e no I'ooin foi- chiubt ; and that the 
eaudidates who are unfit through want of capacity and character, or who shall 
obtain (heir nominations through imjiropi'r means, descr\-e and must exjx'Ct 
{.<> lose the voti.'s lA right-thinking men who place the welfare of the public 
above mere devotion to party. 

'• 111 s,,ln;l^ Tluit there is an urgent call for all who desire the success of the 
I'niou i'.epuldican jiarly to attend tlie delegate elections and use every ex(/i'- 
ti<m to secure tin; iiomimitions of capable and honest candidates fur the several 
olliees to be Voted for at the election in Feliruary. 

" /,'r.s-e/ (•/(/, That tlie Union League of Fhiladeljdiia will use its influence and 
the means of su(di of its members as may \-oluntarily contribute for the pur- 
pose to defi^at all incon)peten(, dishonest, or otherwise unworthy candidates at 
the (■omiug election. 

'' Jicsolrcil, That a special Committee of Fifty-eight be aj)pointed by the chair 
to take sti'ps to carry out the purpo>es of these resolutions and secure the 
objects of this meeting." 

Tender these I'csoiutioiis, a C'oinmiltee was ap]>ointed ; and as its 
course of action is now eontrttsted with thtit of the Coniniittee of 
iSi.\'ty-twi>. i( is well to mark some of the princi[i;d fetitnres of its 
proeei'dings. 



It oi'ganizod ISovc'iul)cr 25. 1874, with tliiri y-oiu' mcnilx-rs 
present, and on the 27th instrnete<l its Chainiian to till the 
places of non-attt'ndijiij; niendiei-s. On Fehruary 2. Is75 (oidj- 
fourteen davs ht'iin'e the election), it prononnced two eandiilates 
on the regularly nominateil JJepuhlican ticket, without prt'tending 
to summon them helore the committee, unfitted ior and unworth}* 
of office; and on Fehruary 10, 1875, at a meeting at Avhich hut 
twenty-three menil)ers attended (seven less than a nn\joi-ity of 
the whole ('ommittee), it indorsed one of the new candidates hy 
a vote of sixteen ayes to seven nays. 

.Vmong the active mend»ers of this C'omnultee were the follow- 
ing gentlemen; most of tliem are now among the loudest in 
attacking the action of the Committee of Sixty-two: 

Clayton Mc^Mk'IIAEI,, Es<|., editor of the Norili AmcrlcfDi. 

Wm. W. Nevin, Es.]., editor of the Prcso. 

Gibson Peacock, Esij., editor of the Bulletin. 

AViM. Elliott, Esq., Shcrifl" of Phihidelphia. 

Samuel Bell, Esq., Clerk of Circuit Court. 

Henry C. Howell, Esij., Ex-Sheriff. 

W.M. H. Kern, Esq., Ex-Sheritf. 

Lewis Waln Smith, Esq., Ex-Assistant-Attorney-General of Penna. 

31. Hall Stanton, Es(j., President Board of Education. 

At the same meeting an address was adopted, from which the 
following extracts are taken : 

"From the best information attainable they recommended tliirteen out of 
the fifteen Eepublican candidates, and tlio fivofrom ir/iv/n flirlr ri:cui>niinid(t- 
tioiis ircre ii:ifhhi'hl , with i^-reat ]iropricty subsequently withdrew." 

" Tiie Eepublican magisterial ticketstands to-day pi/ rr/rd of f/iosc to ir/iom ihc 
commiitce ohjrctcil , and comjxiscd of nominees all of wdiom merit public trust." 

Almost immediately following the League meeting of Novem- 
ber, 1874. came the December election for a Board of Directors, 
at which, after an unprceedented contest, anew Board was 
elected by a very (leci<led nnijority. The o}ihj issue then pre- 
sented (notwithstanding the etforts of the friends of the old 
Board to pervert the character of the movement against it ) and 
indorsed by the Leaicue, was that contained in the resolution and 



stutemciit to be found in the reply of the Members' Committee to 
the letter of Hon. Charles Gibbons of December 11, 1874, as fol- 
lows : 

t 

" ' i?r.s-o/)vv/, Tliat it is the sense of this meeting that the Ottirers and Di- 
reetoi's ol' the Uniim League slmuld eniisist (if men possessing tin:- entire con- 
tideiice <>{' the t'niim League ami c<inniiunity, and who not being themsidves 
holders of, or aspirants for, ])olitical office, arc free from e\cry susjiicion of 
Ilia? towai'ds any ]io]iticnl clique or combination.' 

"Our jxisition, in siiort, is tliis, — The League has by its action at the late 
meeting ]ii'oniisi'd to sit in judgment uyK.m future nominations made for State 
and IMunicipal ollirrs ; to assist in the nomination a.nd promote tlic eli'ction 
of good men, and to prevent- the nomination and deleat tiie election of bad 
men. 

"AA'i' sincerely desire to see this movement carried out, but we do not be- 
lie^■e that tlie League will lie in a conditii.m to do so; nor tliat it will l>e, or 
at least will be considered to lie, an impartial judge in this matter, if it shall 
contain in its Board of Directoi's a number of gentlemen wlm, eitliei- from 
the fai't that they actualh' hold olEce or expect soon t<.i do >o, liave a 'Hni-f 
j}(/-s(i/i(if h/fcri'sf ill the success of their ]iarty and its candiil.ates, aside tVom 
any question of their titness. We think it would be too much toi'Xjiect these 
gentlemen to bo of so sujierior a nature that they would di'cline to use the 
intbienee, whidi they undoul.itedly would have in the management of the 
League, to assist the success of their friends. We wisli to ]ire\'ent even an 
inference that the League will be hampered in its exjiecled good woi-k by the 
jiresenee in its management <if those who cannot be free agents in judgment." 

By the action of the Leao'ue at its special meeting of A'ovem- 
Ik'I', ami ill the election of the new Board in Decendjcj'. 1874, 
two ihiiio's were clearly determined u])on : That the Ivc^agiie 
(after some inaction) should enter into the field of refoi-m within 
the Iic'imldican party, and that its officers, to Avhom this work 
was recommitted, •■ should lie free from every sus})icion of bias 
towards anv jiolilical c]i(|ue or combination." 

The l)o;ir<l, ha<l it been dispose'd. could not have disregarded 
llu'se )iositive maixUitc's of the Li'ague. It feU hound, as it is 
lielievc'(| it was also its jilcasure. to endeavor to cari'v tliem out. 

The C<immittee of Filty-eight, by the very terms of its consti- 
tution. ccascMl to exist alter the Febriuiry election, and it became 
necessary thai a new Committee should be appointed. 

The following Preamble and Eesolutions w^ere accordingly pre- 



scnted at the stated meeting- of the l^oanl <>f Direetors lirld A])i-il 
13, 1S75. and, al'tei' a full discussion reo-ardini;- the power oi' the 
Board in the [ireniises, were unanimously ado]»ted : 

" ]l'/irrrtis, At a special iiu'cting- of the Union Ijeae-uo lioUl on Novoniljcr 
in, 1874, to take sneli aetion as nii-lit l)e necessary to lu-oinotc snilahle nomi- 
nations tor ottic'Oi's un(l<T the new constitution, it was unanimously 

'^ Jii-.soli-r,/. Tluit the intiuencc and sup|iort of the I'nion League audits 
moiuhers sivould and will be given only to candldati^s of um-'xceptiomihh.! char- 
acter, and whose fitness for ottice shall leave im room foi' dou!_>t, and that can- 
didates who sliall oi)taiu tlieir nominations tlirougli impropm' nn^ms deserve 
and should expect to lose the votes of righl,-thiidvini:,- men who prel'er to place 
the welfai-e o|' the people before the succe.-s of party ; 

" Ami \l'/irrr(i.s, At the approaching election the most important. State and 
city otlices arc^ to f)e filled, the l-lepul>lican candidates for which will l)e nom- 
inated in June next ; 

".]//'/ M'/iiz-ciis, Also, tlie result of the recent elections in Pennsylvania and 
throughout tlie Uiuted States luis diMnonstrated tlie necessity for the greatest 
care in the selection of the candidates, and that only the best men in the Re- 
publican ]iarty should be placed in nominatii>n ; theretVire 

" /A. s', /,■(•</, That this Board, recognizing the unanimous sentiment of tlnj 
members of the l^nion League as expressed at their special irieeting on the 
19th of ^member last, dcsiiX's to continue in the course of action they then 
indicated, and to use the inHuencc of this organization towards securing such 
nonunations by the liepublican [larty as will command the suffrages of the 
people. 

" /''.se^vv/, That a special committee of sixty-two be appointed by the 
Pre-idiMit to cari'3' out the objects of this preand_)Ie and resolution." 

The tiillo-wiuo- o-ciitlomcu of the IJoanl were then pivsent : 
.Messrs. J. I\ \AM-ree, K. ('. Kiu,o'ht, (diaries K. Snnth, Iv S. Clarke, 
J. Fraih'V Snuth. Sanund ( '. Perkins, IJichard Wrio'ht. William 
Cainac. Tlionias Hart, di'., John ,1. Ilarfniann, James V. Watson, 
Fi'aiiklin A. < 'omly. William ('. Houston, (ieorgv I'luller. Silas \V. 
Pettit. and .loiin Hockley, dr.; the President, two \dced*resi- 
dents, and thirteen (out of til'tren) Diri'ctors. Total, si.xteen out 
of t wcnty. 

ddic entire leo-aiity of tliis ('onunillee ami its autliority to act 
ami speak' for the Leag-iie wei-e nid (juestioned until its i-eeeid. 
acdion ohlio'ed its opponents to sc^ek- some techiucal o'ronnd upon 
wliich to attack' it. ddie most that the I'A'ciiiii'i Ihillftin. its t^arliest 



6 



eiieniv. vciUiu'cmI lo assert Avas. Iliat the Coiniiiittce of Fifty-ei<;-lit 
'•still livfil." and that the TA'a^'uc had two CoininittiH's. The 
rrf()i' of this has hecii shown. On the eontrary. its s(andin<;' 
and anthorit}' were everywhere reeo!j;nized hy the press and the 
niendters of the Lea<;'ue ; hy the e<litor of tlie Pr('-'<'^, one ( >f its mem- 
hers{nowits assailant); and even l>y (ieneral l)ini;'hani himself. 
That <i;entlennin, in his address hefoiv the Coniniittee, o-ave no 
hint of douht on this suhjeet. and again ami again addressed it as 
the dnly eonstituted representative of the League. 

This matter, however, is not an open (juestion. and is eonelnded 
l>y a reference to the liy-Laws of the League: 

" AllTICLE II. — Ptnners (iml Fmictiuns of Ojjiccrs. 

" Skction II. Tliey [tlio I5uard ot Directors] .shall have ]mi\v(T t<i apiMiint 
Executive Cnininittecs, ti.i carry inti:> ellect any of the objects cxiiresscd in the 
j)i'cauil)le to the act ot" incoriioration, ami to [irescribe their res|ici'tivc duties. 

" Ski'TION III. I'hcy shall have and exercise a general sU[H'rintcndence 
of the atfairs of the League, and shall control and manage its ])ro]ierty and 
efi'ects." 

Under these IJy-Laws, drawn hy Jlon. Charles (iihlions and 
ado])ted hy the hody of the League, the power to a|)point any 
eomniittee whicdi the League itself can appoint, is vested in the 
Board of I»ireetors. 

It is under this ])owei' that the Luhlietition Committee of the 
Tjeague, the oidy standing jiolitieal committee, exists. That Coni- 
miltee has expended thousands of dollars an<l distriluited tliou- 
sands of political documents. 

The follov«ing references t<> tlie minutes of the Loard of IH- 
rectoi'S will show some of the occasions upon whicli this power 
has heeu exercised. 

On (Jctolier '1(\. iSd!]. the I'oard, on motion of ITon. ]\Iorton 
:\rcMichael, 

'^ L'('Si>/rr(f, That the mendiers of the Board, in conjunction witli such mem- 
bers of the League as the t>oard may ajipoint, shall constitute a Connuittee 
to tnl;e any artk>n in re(/(i>-J to fatnrc elections as the O.inunittce may tlunlc 
proper.' ■ 



On June 11, ISOT. a coinninnication was rc>c('ivc(l t'roni Vvn]. 
F]'alov. Es([.. inclosini;- tlic call of a nuiultei- ol' citi/A'iis connccli'd 
with the Eepul)liean juu'ty for a lueetini;- (o consider wliaf meas- 
ures couhl be taken to secure honest and conipetiMit men as candi- 
dates for the different ufjices of tJie Cltn (lorennnenf, at tlic (then) 
next election, and statinij; that tluit nuH'tini;" liad resolved to re- 
quest the Uuion Tjca^'ue to co-operate with it in its eiibrt at 
ref()rm, and to a])]»oini for tliat purpose a comnnttee to confer and 
act with the (Jitizens' ('ommittee. The Board thereupon authoi-- 
ized the Presi(h'nt t<^ aj^point a committee of tive, in accordanet^ 
with this request. The commitlee consisted of three memhers of 
tlie Board and two inend)ei's of the Leai^'ue. not in the !)oai"d. 

On Decendier 17. iSilT. on motion of ^Mr. Mc.Michai'l. a com- 
mittee of tive was ap[iointed to confer with j^'enllemen fi'om ihe 
interior of the Stale, with a view to tlie organization of tlie lu-- 
pubhcan party throug'hout tlie State. 

On January 27, IStlS. the President was em])Owei-e<l to ajqioint 
a committee to draw u]i a ])roj)er statement, to Ite addrt'ssed to tlie 
members of the I.;eau'ne and the licpublicans of i'liiladelpliia. 

On Jaiuiarv 12, 1S(I!I. on motion of Mr. ("has. (iibbons. a I'om- 
mitti'e Avas a])])ointeil by the I^oard on the sid)iect of a hiw for 
the registration of voters. 

On September V.\. 1S7<>. a committee was appointed and em- 
powered to associati' five meml»ers of the Jjeague A\ith it to coii- 
sider the question of constitutional reform, and to lake sm-h 
measures as the committee might deem advisable. 

On January 13, 187-k tlie I5oanl authorizt'd the i*resident to ap- 
point a committee of twenty mendiers ( seven to be members ot the 
Boardj, to prepare and jironujte such legislation as Avas ne(Mled to 
secure improvements in the municipal government of IMiiladelpliia. 

Ou May 12. 1874. on motion of ^Ii-. (Jiblions, it was i-esolved 
that a committee be appointed to confei- with committees (if tlie 
Ih'tbrm Chil) and Law Associatioii, for the purpose of bringing 
forward the names of suitable persons as candidates for Judges of 



8 

llic Oi'pliaiis' Court aiid of tlic (Joiii-t of Common Picas, to bo 
votc'il for at tlic (tlic'ii) next <;'onei'al election. 

There are also a nuiulier ni' oeea.sious upon wliieli ( 'aiiijcaii;;!! 
( 'oimiiillces, ( 'oiifereiUH' < 'oitiiiiittees. ( 'oinmitt<-'es of iii<|iiiry into 
jiolilieal mattei's. and other like pur[)oses. Lave been appointed by 
the l)oat'd of I )ire('toi"s. 

Shortly after the Hoard Meetino- of .\].ril, 1875, l»oforc referred 
to. the Pre^<idellt ap]>ointed the followini;' gentlemen upon the 
('oninultee of Sixty-two. As some eomnient has been made upon 
the jiiri'iiilc (duiraeler of the (-ommittee, the names are ari'anged 
aeeordiui;' to tlie years dnrini:; which the nu-mbers joint'(l the 
Leau'ue. 

com:\[ittee of sixty-two. 

Tirriiiii drcinl in 18(i3, f/u jirsf vnir <,/ ihr Lrdjinr^ ir/zosr cltarirr is ihiicd 

Marrl, m, 1S(14. 

Aui(.> R. Little. E. S. :\ra\vsnji. .T(isci)ii H. TrotliT. 

Li'Miiirl C^.'ttin. Tliiis. CJ. Priee. Edward Sliij)jii'n. 

.T.M.] .1. Bnily. Ilonry P. Smith. E. T. Chase. 

L'Uiis ('. Madeira. Andrew Wheeler- A. J. Antelo. 

Eilward .Strieklaiid. Ferdinand .^. Dreer. (.'lias. vS. Paneoast. 

L<'wi> I). Ijauydi. Ivlwin Cireble. Abraham Barker. 

Aubrey H. Smith. Edwin 11. Cojie. , 

Firr rlrrtoJ in 18G4. 

Jus. T. Thnmas. Paul J. Field. Enl„.r1 P. Cm-sen. 

J. G. Rosengartcn. Chas. J. Field. 

Niiir drricd in 18r,-j. 

J.dui S. Stairs. Thos. A. Povd. J. H. Ilarkncss. 

E. Dunbar Lockwood. Jas. Freeb.iru. Jas. V. Ingham, M.D. 

S. IL Polhermel. T. B. I^aneaster. Elweod Johnson. 

F,nir fircial in 18G0. 

Chas. W. Piekering. Chas. F. Hulse. H. G. Siekel. 

H. iVrmitt Brown. 

T>r., vlrcird in ISCT. 
(ieo. D. j\lcCreary. Wm. W. Nevin. 

Ficr clrcfrd in ISUb. 

Tln.s. Hart. Jr. Henrv Bettle. Wm. ]\[ Whitaker. 

Wm. H. Phawn. " Geo. W. Fiss. 



Five elected in 18G9. 

Watson Malone. Sanmcl B. Huey. Samuel Castner, Jr. 

Walter Lippincott. Alfred M. Collins. 

T/iree elected in 1870. 
Silas W. Pettit. Nicholas Lennig. Fred. E. Shclton. 

Tioo elected in 1871. 
Kol)ort D. Coxe. Clias. B. Me^Micliacl. 

Four elected in 1872. 
Jos. Lapsley Wilson. J. T. Way. 

C. C. Dunn. Chas. Williams. 

One elected in 1873. 
C. B. Andress. 

One elected in 1874. 
Henry AVhelen, Jr. 

One elected in 1875. 
E. T. Steel. 

Thirty-four nieiubers, more than a niajorit}^ of the Coniinittee, 
were elected (hirino- the first three years of tlie existence of the 
League. 

This C<juimittee at once organized, and adopted the following- 
address and resolutions: 

To THE Eepublicax Yotkrs 01- Pennsylvania : 

" The Union League of Pliiindelphia has appointed a committee of sixty- 
two members to aid in (ihtaining the nomination of pro])er men for the State 
and County offiees, to he filhd at the approaching general election. This 
object, always to be sought, is now of paramount importance to the success of 
the Kepublican jiarty. For tlu; first time in a long series of years the State 
ha.s been carried by our political opponents, and they are so encouraged tluit 
they look for further gain in Novend)er. It is not believed, however, tliat 
the late Democrafic success in this State indicates any change in the senti- 
ment of the jieoph^, and still h'ss a departure of our great Conunon wealth 
from the prineipifs whieli liave guidrd her action for so many years. C(nn- 
plaint exists, but it is not against tlie doctrines of thf K"public'aii ]iarty. It 
is only against sonu^ of tin' )nen. to whom tlie adminisfration of allairs has 
lately been intrusted, and who have by their reckless conduct brought odium 
and defeat upon the whole organization. A wholesome disgust with this con- 
dition of aflairs has caused a largo number of our citizens to conclude that 
the mere promulgation of a platform is of secondary importance, and that 



10 



it ought not f(i iiisurf the succpss and atone for the demerits of incapable or 
c<irruj)t men, using it only to credit and support themselves. Many of the 
]>est nu-n of the liepuhlican party are thus strongly disposed to place the 
question of tlie personal fitness and worth of candidates for office above that 
of their pi>litical views, and in the case of imjiroper nominations either to 
refuse to vote at all or to vote against their inclination and jiolitical ojiinion. 
"^rhis feeling is nowhei'C stronger than in our own eit\- and State ; and it must 
be conceded that a large body of Rej^ublican voters here has determined to 
throw its infiuence and votes against any and all nominees of the party when- 
ever they are not such as to deserve and command support. This is the whole 
lesson of the last election. If we are willing to he taught, success is certain. 
If, on the contrary, no improvement shall bo made in the character of the 
candidates jtrt'sented, nothing but disastrous and deserved defeat awaits us. 
The Union League of Philadtdphia has always been the recognized adherent 
and etBcient jiromoter of liepuhlican ])rinclples, and it ha.s no intention to 
abandon the duties of its position. In the jn-esent emergf^icy, however, it is 
bound to look to the future and permanent benefit of the whole Repul)!ican 
party, and to place this motional object above the tem])orary success of un- 
princijih'd men, happening for the time to be its candidates for State or 
municipal offices. 

" Holding these views, and believing that sincere reform within the Ivojaib- 
lican jiarty is not onh' generally desired, but is absolutidy necessary to its 
success and preservation, and earnestly desiring that it may retain its old posi- 
tion and strength, this committee of sixty-two, representing tlu^ Union League 
of Piiiladeljihia, has therefore 

'• 7i'c'.sf /(v'r/. That we earnestly call ujion our ITejniblican fellow-citizens to 
exert their influence to obtain the nomination (d' unobjectionabh^ candidates 
for the November election, and to further that end by co-oj)erating with all 
]|(>]iublican organizations woi-king bu- the same object. 

" J!esolvt'(/. Tiiat if the delegates of the jli'publican convention, about to 
assetidile, will res|)ect the demands of the true and earnest men of the ]iarty 
and place in nominatitui only men of recognized cajiaeity and iKuiestj', this 
League will gladly recommend the citizi'us of Pennsylvania to give them a 
solid sujiport, and will do all in its |iowei- legitimately to secure their election. 

" /iV-so/r^"'/, That if, in defiance of the wishes of the great boiiy of the 
Re])ublican ]Kirty, the Conventions shall muuinate [lei'sons of doubtful fitness 
or suspected integrity, the Union League will not hesitati3 to condemn such 
action, and it will adopt such measures as will in its juilgnu'ut secLire the 
deb at of such nomim^es. The r<.'s]ionsil)ilities in such cases will rest on those 
who, foi' the gratification of jiersonal ends, persist in defying tlie popular will. 

" Amos K. Littlk, 

'' Chd'unnaH. 

"IlOBI'-RT Pi. CORSOX, 

" Secretary. ^'' 



11 

The iie\vsp;ii)ers coiunn'iited upon lliis aclioii as follows: 

" Piiblir Lt'il/jer," Mail 15, 1875 : " It will 1_)C fouml to rontain souiicl doctriiie 
and wliolescimc aclindiiition. All this is riglitly put ; and tiic Kcjinblican 
caucus of Common Council responded to it on Thursday, by nominatini;- 
William M. Bann as a candidate for Guardian of the Poor." 

TIic " Press" of Mmj 11) 1S75, said : " Tiu^ lan,<;-uage of tlie address is that 
to which no Repuldican will except." 

The ^'- TiDii'fi'' nf Mill/ 11, 1875, said: "The resolutions and address are 
sound, str(.)ni;-, and timely." 

The ^- SKiuldij Press" said: "This is well said. W(- hojie, if the Til^-rim 
'King' should manage the Republican nominations for the ofllces to lu^ voted 
foi- at tlie Novi'mlier eli.:ctions in tlie manner usual ()n such occa.-ions, this 
Committee of Sixty-two will In^ad a rel.iellion, and, repudiating the bad nomi- 
nees, will ])resent such as are wortliy," etc. 

7Vie '^ Siini/(i>/ Disjxife/i" of Mill/ Hj, ISIG: " Thesi." sentiments will be in- 
dorsed by t'very honest and upright Rejniblican. Let all such ftdlow the 
League in demanding unexceplionalde nominations, and in ca>e bad nomi- 
nations arc made in spite of this demand, let them l.xdt and scratcii witliout 
hesitation. There is no other way to teach corrupt men win.) ' run the ma- 
chine' a wholesome respect for |)Opular sentiment — no other way to effect 
'reform within the ])arty.''' 

iShovtly aiU'i- the publicution of tliis address, the Repnldicaii 
members of C'ouuoils met in caneus and nominated William M. 
Bunn and William N. Marks for Guardians of the Poor. 

The Avhole pi-ess of the city at once exclaimed ao-ainst such a 
proceeding, aiul tljc Committee, hoping that the A'oice of tlie 
League miglit be listened to, jiresented the folio-wing rcsjiectiul 
;ip])eal to those with whom the nmtter rested : 

APPEAL OF THE UNION LEAGUE TO THE REPUBLICAN 
MEMBERS OF COUNCILS. 

" Thi're m)W I'csts upon yo'/, as the elected representatives of the people, and 
upon th(! Union League Committee of Sixty-t wo, as representatives of a lai'ge 
body of R"publican voters, a grave responsil)ility. i'd/t arc aliout to (dect 
Managers of the House of Coi-rection and Guai-dian< of the Poor, while we 
are intrustcsd with the voice and inlluence (d" the most powerful Republican 
institution of the State, to use in an endeavor to secure good noniimitions for 
the coming election. 

" An address, rccentl}' pid)lished by the Union Leagau;, defines its pi'inci|)]es 
and position in this canvass, and the first I'eply to its ajijieal is made in tlie 
nomination by your cauctis of certain men f.ii- (iuardians of the Pt)or, two 



ri 

of wliom iirc ]>cc\iliarly nbjoctiniiable to a large iiuniljer of Rfjuililicaii voters, 
^'our action in tlii.s matter is construed by some as a defiance of tlie wishes 
of tlie iiarty. It certainly is hostile to its position, and offers encouragement 
to the coming Conventinns tn f<illo\v in the path you have marked out. 

" Shall there be even the ajipearance of a conilict in our own jiart}', on the 
eve of impoidant State and National elections, in consequence (.)f your action 
in this matter, -when a change in your candiilates would maintain good feel- 
ing, strengthen the liepuldican party in this city, and enable it to jiresent a 
united front at the coming conventions in favor of the nominatiim of unex- 
ceptionable men ? 

"The Union League has deliberately taken its position, and inti'uds to 
stand b}' its resolutions, while you, we believe, liave acted hastily and witlmut 
due ci;>nsideration. Anxious to avdid an issue, althougli we shall ni</et it 
without hesitati(_)n if forced upon us, knowing that we represent the senti- 
ments of tlie earnest men of our party, and detei'inined, so far as in our jii:wer, 
to carry out all the pledges iif the League made at its special meeting in 
November last, Ave resjiectfuUy submit that it is for you to tn say whether 
tbei'e shall be harmony, good feeling, and united action in the liepublican 
party this fall. A recc^nsideration of your recent action, and the election to 
the offices now to be tilled by you of men of character so liigli that none 
dare question their lifness fur the jK.'sition, will go very far towards accom- 
plishing this desirable result. 

"Entertaining these views, this Committee has 

" Besulved, That we respectfully ask the liepublican members of Select and 
Common Councils to recnnsider the nominatinn of William 31. Bunn and 
W. N. Marks, for Guardians of the Poor, and to substitute for them the 
names of men who possess the conlldence of the members of the Kepublican 
party, and whose fitness for the position no nne will question. 

" Bc'iolred, That we urgently request that none but men of the very highest 
character shall be elected to till the vacancies in the Board of ^Managers of the 
House of C<jrrection. 

" Amos K. Littli^, 
"Egbert E. Cotisox, '^ C/idiniH/n. 

" Srcrrianj. 

" Maif 18, 1875." 

Councils Soon mot. and, unilcr the whip and spur of tlie Uing- 
(for many otherwise repulaMc members Avere driveit to join in 
their action), detianlly insulted the Tjeague, and shoek'od t!u' 
sense of the whole community, l)y electing Messrs. P>inin and 
Marks to the positions demanded by lliem. 

In the language of a once miglity exponent of the same kind 
of poAver, thus exercised, the League was asked, "What are j^ou 
o-oinic to do al)out it?" 



13 



The ( '()ininitt<.'(.'. a week iff/cr the clictioii, rospoiulcd in the fol- 

h)wini;' tei'iiis: 

"UNION LEAGUE HOUSE, \ 

" PlllLADKl.l'IIIA, Ani;-ust 11, 1<S7'>. j 

" A meeting of tlic Committee of Sixty-two was lielJ at, the Union League 
House on June 10, 1875, attended l>y a largi' inajority of ihe niemhei's. 

"The Executive Committee, tlu-oiigh Lcnuicl Coitln, Esq., Cliairnuui, re- 
jiorted the folk)wing I'esolutioiis, which weiM^ adi>jitcd unaninuuisly. 

" M'lirrrds^ Thti K(']nihli<'an niemhers of CouiumIs have, not withsfandiug tlii^ 
res|iectfnl ajiiieal of llic Union League, and in llic fare of tlic earnest pi-otest 
of almost the entire jn'oss of tln^ (-'ity, andeontrai'v to the desire of every good 
citizen, elected William iL Uiinn and William N. Mai'ks as (iuardians of 
the I'oor ; and 

" irAr/VY/.v. This uttrrly indefensihle action (dearly indicates the fixed pur- 
jiose of that existing condnnation of Ke|iiddicans and l)(.'mi.icrats, which tlius 
suhjected Councils to its will, to assume to he and to avi as the masters of the 
Eejiuhlican party; to dictate to i;s conventions whom they shall nominate, 
and to the people whom tlicy shall \ote for; and can he looked upon only as 
a liold di'tiancc of every mend)er of ihe ])arty who may, in the interests of 
lionesty and decency, venture to (piestion its (.Iccrees ; and 

" H7/r/v7/x, In the upinion of this League the tinu' has arrived when it is 
aljsolutely essential to the jircservation of the Kejtuhlican jiarty in this city 
that the ]irescnt comhination of party managers shi>uld he hi'oken uji, and 
that those nn-n who still feel that the party is one of principle, with a work 
to perform and an (d)jcct to attain oiln-r than tlie personal aggrandizement of 
otfice-liolders and ottice-scckers, should di'lennine not to remain longer suh- 
ject to their comnuind and purposes ; and 

'• W'Jii ridx, This action of Council.-' has also shown that so long as the men 
now in power are permitted to control tlu' Eejudjlicaii Jiarty, it is idle ti.i ask 
for or to expect, any improvement in the (diaracter of our puhlic otticials, and 
that nothing hut the extreme nu'asure of an ojien and nncompr(e,iiising con- 
test with then^ is left to the true and earnest nicmhei's of the party : 

" lirsulrc'i/, That the Union League accepts the issue thus force<l upon itself 
and all respectal)le nnunhers of the Kepuhlican party, and that it w ill, in 
jiursuit ot' its exjiressed purpose to endeaxdr to ohtain good nominatimis, and 
to su|i|iort only thoi'oughly unol)iectionahle nnMi, use its power and influent'C 
against the (di'elion of any candidates nonunated hy the conventions ahout to 
l)e h(dd, who i)elong to or are ident itled with that dictatorial hand of men, 
nominallv of hoth parties hut without true allegiam-e to either, which nuw 
rules and oppresses our city, and is disgi'acing and destroying the Ue|)uhlican 
organization. 

" A'^.s•'/^-■"/, That th(! Ilejiuhlican voters of this city are earne.-tly calleil upon 
to assert and prove their imlependencit of the present party rulers, and, hy 
conceided action in their sevci'al wards, to assist the League in its present 
work. 

"In the judgment of thi.-^ Comnjitlee, the votes of ten thousand Itepubli- 



14 



cans witlilifld from ' llin;;-' nominal ions at the apprunchini;- election will insure 
tlicir (l.'lV'at ami the disnqition of their vieious combination, as well as per- 
mancntlv purify and stren«;-tlien the Republican jiarty. 

" lirsiiliu'il, That this Coniniittee will receive contributions from the mem- 
bers of the Lcayue and otlier citizens to defray the necessary expenses of the 
apjiroacliiui;- campaign ujion the basis of its foruK'r address and these resolu- 
tions. " Amos \\. Little, C/tairma/i. 

" ItoHKRT R. COR.SON, Serri'f <!/■>/. '' 

Oil tliis action tlic ('(litorial comineiits -were as follows: 

'■'■ Piihlir Jjclijir.'' — "Tlie election of Wm. X. Bunn is a lamental:)le illus- 
tratiuii of the 'eaueus' system." "Who and what Wm. N. Bunn is docs n-it 
need be told to the intelligent peojjle of Philadelj)hia.'' 

'Llic ^^SiiikIiiji Ti rues,'" , Tunc 13. — ''The Tnion League has now an opportu- 
nity." ".Since Jolm 1'. Verree succcc<lcd Morton Mc-Miclia(d as President 
things have changed somewhat If the League has resolved to make war 
ujion the 'rings', it deserves to be honored for its good residutions." 

Tin- '<-S>()/,Inij Press," June 0. — "Of I>unn and 3[arks neither the heljiless 
{laupers nor Ihi- pe<ii)le have anything good to ex|iet't." 

The " Times. " — "The Union League is vampiishcd by the ' ]\[ysterious 
Pilgrims.' " " The Union League has been snubbed frightfully 1)y Councils 
at the command of the Pilgrims." 

T/ie ^^ B'lllefiii," June 10. — " We have plainly expressed dur opinion as to 
this election, and have dnne what we could in arrest what we believe to have 
been a serious political erroi-. " 

The "■ EerniiHi Tele;jniph.''—^'T]ni^ [th(' action of your Committee] is well 
done. Action of this character from s,, well organized and inlluential a body 
as the Union L<>ague cannot l)ut be of great value to the cause of true Repub- 
licanism and good government in Philadelphia. The committee recognize 
the full signiticaiice of the situation, and they face the issue s(juai'ely." " They 
have struck a sturdy blow for the right." " If tiie League will live up to 
the jiolicy enunciated by the committi'e, it may become the centre of an in- 
fluence that will radiate faran<l wide, puril'yiug, strengtheuing, and bringing 
again triumjdi to the Rejiublican jiarty." 

'■^ Siitnldii DisjHif.-h," Jinie \Z, 1S7">. — "The Committee of Sixty-two comes 
up to its work with spirit." " All this is bravely and wisely said; and if re- 
spectable citizens, members of the llepublican parly, who are heartily sick 
of the frauds and ci,>rru]itions which they have hitherto sustained by alwavs 
voting the regular ticket, will determine hereafter to scratch with rigor(.)US 
etfort, and to vote against every bad nominee, nuich g,iod will be accom- 
plished." 

^^ Eri-ii'i)Hi S/i/r," Jiili! 17. — "Once more the voters of Philadcdphia will 
have an ojijiortunity of participating in a fair and square tight, in Avliich the 
issue will be ' ring' or ' no ring.' " 

" S/nn/iii/ P/-ess,'' June p',, 1S7-"). — " Deliverance is at hand. The brave and 
decisive action of the Union League Reform Committee has sealed the doom 



15 



of tlio rini;-." ''It is noteworthy Unit tho NorlJi Atnirirnn ami B/iZ/rfhi, 
whicli iidW iMndemn tlic actinn of tlio Li'ai;-ue, lidjicd tlii' Lcan'iiu to I'nrco 
Maun i)tt' tliu ticket in 18G8, and saw the jiarty pureed and sti-ent;-thened by 
this aetifin.'' 

T/ir " TiiiHs." — " All honor to the Union Lea';-ne. It Inis washed tlie last 
stains of the I'iln-rini iilaccnien from its skirts. It is a. pointed departure from 
the Union League of (.me year ago." 

It lias liooii recently .slated that the (\)iiiinittee is respoiisildc 
for the (■(intiniitini-f of l^uiin and 3Iai'ks in their present olliees, 
and th.at had the Uoniniiltee fui'ther postponed its ■■answer." 
those persons M'onld have acceded to a re(pu'si tin- their ri'si^'na- 
tions. It is emphatically denied that the ( 'oniinittee ever had 
any in.fornnition njion the snhjecl, of the J'esio^nations of l)nnn and 
Marks beyond the vao'nest staienient made ])rivately to one of 
the (\imniiftee that they mio;ht. at some fulnre lime, resio-n theii- 
]»osi(ions. Alter the inellectnal appeal of the ('onimiltee hcforc 
their t'lection. and a week's delay (iftcr. it wonld have hi'cn weak 
indeed, even npon a. formal coiinnunication to the ('oinmittee. to 
have deferi'e(l l()no;er to the ]deasui'e of those o^'ntlenuMi. Ihit 
their resio^nat ions wonld not have altered the condition of aifairs. 
The question had hecome a nuieh more important one than the 
personal is-<m' involve<l in tlu' selection of two un^vorthy men. 
It demonsti'ated the fact that an arliitrary ])o\ver existed in this 
city sultieieidly strong to ro/iiiiui/nJ tlie action of ("ouncils. and 
liold enouo-h to carry on the Mnnicijial (iovernmeid reo^ardless 
of pi'o]»i'iel v. the weltiire of the citizen, or the I'eal ilderests ot 
the Eepuhlican ])ai1y. It ]nade this appareid to the most nn- 
l>elievini;- IJepnhlican, and aroused the most timid to the dano-or 
to i'uture o-ood and honest o-overnment. fi'oni a further continu- 
ance of the same I'ule. 'Idie c/rciin/i of l)unn and .Marks showed 
this; their risiiiiiufidii.^ would not have mended the fault or ahateil 
the e\'il it indi<-at«,-d in the slio'ldest deo^ree. 

A"er\' shorll\- alter, the |{e])uliliean ('ounty ( 'onveni ions met. 
and in almost evei'\- case went throuo-h the tdi-m of nonnnal inn: 
the men whose selection had loiio; Itefore heeu determined U])on 



16 



liy the rnaiiaii'fiN of the PiepuMican party. The wishes of llie 
]u'o])lc' :uh1 of the liea^'Ue for iwir nu'ii. wliose lives luul not lu'en 
sjK'iit ill ofiicc. for men (in the IaiiL;;uaL':e of the Ijea^'ue address 
adoi>te<l 3hn'21. iSliS) •■ winoi okkkk skf.ks," were as coiileiu])- 
tuously treated as in tlie case of I'liiiii and .Marks. ( )ii the 
eontrarv, iiothiiiL;; was iH'i;-arded Itnt the ]»ersonal advaiici'ineiil of 
tiiosc wlio souii'lit ain! (h'nuuided tlieir own seU-etion ; and at h-ast 
(wo ot' the most j»romineut, one hcini;' the very chief of tlie 
iccjiuhhcaii ]iarty manai;'ers. were presented for the suifrat;'es of 
Repuhlicaiis. ]t had l>een (h)ne over and over ai;"ain hct'ore, and 
(looi) Eepuldicaiis had not rcl»elled. \Vould tliey not swallow tlie 
ticket once moi-e? An<l so the question was asked again: What 
are you goini;- to do ahout it? 

The Coinmitlee did not act hastily. DiiriiiLi; the summer most 
of its mendiei's wt're out of town, and tlicre was no dcsii'c to act 
save after time for consideration, and at a lar^'C meetins;' of its 
memhcrs. The time ariived. What was to lie done? 

Xothini;- hut to manfully fultill the pU'd^-cs which the ( 'om- 
mittee ha<l made to the jiarty and the peopk' in its resolulions 
of June 1(1. IST"). ^othini;; Init to strike at the root of tlu' evil 
Avhich threatens the su|)remacy of the Rcpuhlican l>arty in this 
city, and is fast destroying it thi'oughout the wdujle country. 
Xothing hut to condemn the l;>aud of men who rule it in this city, 
and to refuse to indorse every candidate who owed his nomination 
to their p)ower aii<l will. This is the only tieid of action whi(di is 
open to those, memhcrs of the Re|)uhlican ]>arty who still Iiojh', 
there may he reform within the lines of the party. We know wc; 
are misrided. and we know tliat tlie party managers are rcspon- 
silile. Until t heir despotic power is dcternuned. — and nothing 
will end it hut the defeat of their a|»))ointees. — -it is uscdess to look 
for reform in the parl_\'. or for an_\' change in the perSdiinfl of its 
nomi)iations. 

())i Septemher 24, IS""), the f 'oiiiiiiit tee met, forty-three mem- 
bers being present during the evening. (Jenei'al 11. If. JJingham. 



17 

(lie candidate for Clerk of Quarter Sessions, a])]X'arc(l in hcliiiirof 
liimself and tlie oilier nominees npon the ('ouiity ticki-t, and in a 
s]H'eeli ot" more than an hour j)r(.'sented their ami his claiiMs tor 
eleetion. Tt was c'lo(|nent, l»nt the tone of it was not calculated 
to intliu'iiee the minds of i^'eutlemen desirim;' to act a<'cordiiit;- to 
their sense of duty. After a dehale of coiisidcrahle lcni;-lli. the 
Committee voted n[>on the I'esolutions snhmitted foi- its cimsidera- 
tion. seriatim, and unanimously adopted the tirst and third. The 
yeas and na\s were called n|)on the second resolution, and it was 
adopted hy a vote of twenty-nine ayes and eh'\en nays. 

The resolutions and the rejiort aeeomjian^'ing them are as fol- 
lows : 



To THE Chairman and Mkmi;ers of the Committkk or >Sixty-t\vo (U-' 

THK Union Lkaouk: 

" Giiifloi'oi, — Your l<]xecutivo Cnnmiitteo would i'e?iiecti'uliy reiHirt that 
the State tuid, since your last meetiui;-, on June 10, the County eonveutions of 
tlie Re[iuldican j.arty have lui't and iua<le their noniinations. 

"'J'hat the Hdiuination of (Jeneral Jdlin F. llartrauft for (Jox^ernor for a 
second term was unaniniunsly desired hy the Ik'puhlican ])arty ; liis re-(dec- 
tion liy a hirue majority will he hut a lltting reward fir an adniinist ratit.m 
of his high oHice conspicuously ahle, imjiartial, and ujiriglit. It is helieved 
that Governor Hartranft will reeei\e the supjiort not only of the whule of 
the great tiejmhliean party, hut also of many citi/-ens not within our party 
lines. 

" That in Hon. Henry Ifawle, the nominee fir Stale Treasurer, we have a 
candidate of uiupiestionahle character, whose distinguislied services to his 
own city are guarantees of the ahility and lidelity witii which he will dis- 
charge tlie duties (if the (dHce tor whitdi he has t)eeM nominated. 

"That Hon. Craig Eiddle, who has lieen nominated for Judge of the C(-)urt 
of Common I'leas No. 1, of tliis C<iunty, has already filled that otfice hy 
aiipointment for nearly a year. During that time he has proved himself a 
most competent and upriglit judge, and his dischai-ge (if tlie (.Uities of his 
ottice has given entire salisfat.-tion to suitors, u> Ihe bar, and to the puidic. 
The ])eople cd' this city have so td'teii refused to change their judicial-}' for 
merely partisan reasons, that, it is ho[ied that Judg(.' Pdtltlh' will recei\e the 
supjiort of a large majority of our citizens witiiout distinctinn of party. 

"'Idiat in the nniuination of (ieneral Henry H. liinghain fur Clerk <if the 
Court of (Quarter Se,~si,,iis, <if i)avid IL J.aue for liecordei' of Deeds, and of 
Jolui S. Wetter and l)a\id .Martin for C'ity Coiamissiniiers, weiiave not lii'cn 
so fortunate. Jn them we recognize the woidc of that clioue or t'omhination 



18 



(if political ni:inni;-oi's wliirli has so loni;- misruled our city nml driven froiii tlic 
Kc]iiil)li<'aii ranks so many of our citizens. 

'• Jt. i'^ the same dictatorial band of men, nomiiuilly ol' hotli ]>artii'S, hut with- 
out true allegiance to either, which, iiotwit hstundinu,' tlie I'espectfLil ap]iC'al of 
thi- JjcaL^'ue, in the face of the earnest protest of almost, the entire press of 
the city, and contrary to the wish of every <;'ood citizen, elected William 31. 
])Unn and William N. Marks to he Guardiairs of the Poor. They thereby 
assumed to lie and acted as the masters of the liepublican party and of the 
jieople, and dt^lii'd every man who, in the interests of honesty and decency, 
ipiestioned tlieir action. 

" Heretofore these men, calculating upon our adherence to the Eepuhlican 
party and our disinclination to vote against our political opinions, ha\e made 
such noinimitions as jileased themselves, and have a]ipcaled to us to sujiport 
them. AVhile constantly jiromising retVu-m in the future, they have urged 
ujion us the necessity of supporting <_iur party nominations and seeking refiirni 
within oui' party lines, lleretofoi'c they have mit miscalculated, and we\ in 
our dev<ition to tlie princijiles of tlie llejuiblican ])arty and in reliance upon 
their ]iromises of ret'orm, time and again have blindly followed them. 

" They Inn'i' led us to destruction, and even here in Pennsylvania — a strong- 
hold of our ]iarty — and in every other State in the Union the Jtepublican 
jiarty has steadily lost ground, until now we have bui'ied the prestige of vic- 
tory in the humiliation of almost universal defeat. There is but <nni way to 
retrieve oui>elves. Either we must dejiose these self-elected leaders wlio have 
betra}'ed u^, or the jieople will depose that ]iarty in whose princiides are to b(.> 
fciund tlie only safeguards of good govei'iiment. The j)eo])le demand and will 
have reiorm ; within the lines of the itepublican ]iarty if they can, without 
them ii' they mu>t. We therefore report tlic following resolutions: 

" 7,'(xe/(vv/, That the Union League of Philadelphia liereby ratifies and in- 
d(.irses the nominations of (ieneral John F. Hartranft, f<jr Governor, and of 
Hon. Henry Ilawle, for State Treasurer, and of Hon. Craig Biddle, for Judge 
of the ('(jurt of Common Pleas No. 1 of Philadeljiliia County, and earnestly 
urges upiin its fellow Kepulilican citizens to use their utnio.st inlhience and 
ca.^t their votes in favor of their election. 

" A', .s'e/r.'v/. That the Union League of Philadelphia cannot indorse or ratify 
the nominations of tJeneral Henry H. Bingham tor Clerk of the Court of 
(,»uarter Sessions, of David H. Lane, for Kecorder of Deeds, or of Joliii S. 
Wetter and David iAhirtin for City Commissioners. 

'' A'cxe/r* r/. That with an entire concurrence in the jirinciples of the Piepubli- 
can iiartv aiul desire for its success in the ensuing election, and be]ie\'ing that 
the ciuitinuance of the candidates last named upon its ticket will r(>sult not only 
in their disastrous defeat, but also in the endangering of the success of our State 
ticket, we earnestly request said candidates to withdraw fr(un the canvass, so 
that their ]ilaces may lie tilled by others having the conlidence of tlie voters 
of the ]iepublican jiariy and of the community." 



ThruU"-ljoul this whole course of action the Coinniittee at no 



19 



lime straytMl from llio liiu' of cniKhici atloplrd hv tho procediiiii; 
C'onniiitUH' of I'ift y-riu'lit. It lias (iiUciXMl fi'din that ( 'oiiiniittee 
only ill Hiial jud^-nuMit. 'I'lic lalliT iu(li;-f(l and coikU'IihumI. even 
Avitliout lic'ai'in/j,'. iwo of tlu' i\'i;-ulai' caiKlidaU's. and tlicii inilnr.scd 
tlu' Aviiolo lickv't. Tins iiidorsoiin'iit Ava.s (.'veryAvlierc acc(-'])tc'd 
and pai'aiK'd as tlie action of tlsc LcaiiMu- itself The ( 'onnnitf ee 
of Sixty-two iieaivl one of tin- candidairs on lichalf of all. Imt ili<l 
/lot indorse the whole liekid. Thai is the wiiole iliffcivnce ; an<i 
the wise eonclnsion is. hotli ( 'oinniittei'S actina; foi- like pnrjtoses 
and liavini;,- exactly the same extent of power, that the Committee 
of l"''itty-cii;-ht acted within, and the Committee of Sixty-two ex- 
ceeded, its authority'. Had the lattei- ap]iroveil of all the candi- 
d;ites. you would have ht-ard nolhini;- ot' the pi'esent speciou.s 
ohjections to its ])rocee<linij,'s. ( )n the contrary, its indorsement 
would have heen eai;'erly accejiled as the action of the "Union 
Leag'ue." and all its present opjsonents would have joined in its 
loud praise. 

Uul. as lias heen said, the ('ommittec since that time has lieen 
the snhject of the ii;'rossest ahuse from the Jiiui;' newspapers ;;nd 
Ixiuii' ])oliticians. As its niemhers ha<l heen threatene(l heforehand, 
so now they jiave heen slandered, until, in the choice la]ii;'uag'e of 
a Sundav newspa])ei', tlie action of the ('omnntlee is characterized 
as "dirty conduct."' and you are called ujioii to kick its mendjers 
into the street. 

AVhy this sudde)! fui'v. pursued (o tlie k'naths of uiitrutli an<l 
pci'sonality ? Because the ('ommiliee of Sixty-two has struck a 
Idow at liiiii;' rule in this city, whi(di. if sustained hy the mendici's 
of the Lea^'ue and the people, will hiH'ak up the monstrous com- 
hiiiation now misg-overniiiii; and ilislutnoriiii;- our cit\', and hecauso 
a disruption of this ori;'aiiizatii»n will disarraui;-e tlu" j)laiis of those 
who have selected themselves for ollice in the near future. 

Such, gentlemen of the [jea^ue. is the ([Uestioii to lie (h'cided at 
the special meetiiii;' u[»on ()cloher 14. Do you not helieve tlu're is 
a Iviuii' in l'hiladel[)liia. and that the Iking alone has nominatetl the 



20 

Repul>iicaii caixlidates for C'lerlv of (^)iiartoi' Sessions, Eeeorder of 

Deeds, and ('itv ('oimnissioiiers ? 

Is it init worih aii effort to l>reak ii]) tlds IJiiii;- and })urge the 

Eepulilicaii ]iai'ty of tlie men now snlisistini;- ujion it? Is it not 

•\vortli wlnlc to make a Iiold tight foi" reform in t]ie])arty? — or will 

YOU di'ive ilionsands of your fellow liepnlilieans to seek it flse- 

Avhei'e? These (|uestions ari^ for yon. and. however you uuiy 

answer ihem. the niemhers of the ('onnuittee of Sixty-two who 

voted foi' the a<loption of the seeond resolution at the meeting; of 

Se])lemher 24, 1875. feel sure that they have aeted tin- the true 

interests of the Leag'ue, the Ee}>ul.>liean party, and the jx'ople 

of the eity of I'hiladelphia. 

CIIAPvLES E. SMITH. 

Chatniian of Jlcdim/. 
II. C. BEOWX, 

Srercterij. 



S '12 



